Wireless input apparatus and related method for supporting input requirements of multiple hosts

Abstract

An input apparatus for an electronic system with a plurality of hosts. Each of the input apparatuses and the hosts has a radio module. Each radio module has a unique identity and is capable of transmitting and receiving radio packet signals. When the radio module of a host receives a packet including the identity of the host, the host will resolve information in the packet. If the host receives a packet including an identity of another host, the host will discard and ignore the packet. The input apparatus also has an input interface, and stores the identities of the hosts. A user can select a host identity with the input interface, and the radio module of the input apparatus will transmit packets including the selected identity and commands inputted with the input interface, such that the host corresponding to the selected identity will receive commands inputted by the user without interfering with other hosts.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of wireless input for supporting a plurality of hosts with a wireless input apparatus, the method comprising: 
 entering a registration mode;    updating an identity table of the wireless input apparatus; and    supporting the hosts selectively according to the identity table.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein one of the hosts is chosen from the group consisting of the following: a personal computer, a mobile phone, and a personal digital assistant (PDA).  
     
     
         3 . An electronic system comprising: 
 an input apparatus comprising:    a control circuit for controlling the input apparatus;    an input interface for receiving an input information to generate a control signal, and for receiving an identity selected from a plurality of predetermined identities as a transmitting identity;    a storage device for storing an identity table and an identity in a non-volatile way, the identity table comprising a plurality of predetermined identities; and    a first radio module for transmitting a radio packet, the packet comprising the transmitting identity and the control signal; and    a plurality of hosts, each host corresponding to a different host identity, each host comprising:    a second radio module for accepting and outputting the control signal if the packet received from the input apparatus has a corresponding host identity, and discarding the packet if the received packet has no corresponding host identity; and    a processing module electrically connected to the second radio module for receiving the control signal outputted by the second radio module for controlling operations of the host;    wherein at least a processing module of a host among all hosts is capable of controlling the second radio module of the host to transmit a control packet to the input apparatus.    
     
     
         4 . The electronic system of  claim 3 , wherein the control circuit of each host updates the contents of the identity table according to the control packet.  
     
     
         5 . The electronic system of  claim 3 , wherein the input apparatus is a keyboard having a plurality of keys, and the input interface will generate different control signals when different keys are depressed.  
     
     
         6 . The electronic system of  claim 3 , wherein the first radio module is further capable of transmitting a service notice packet comprising an identity code of the input apparatus.  
     
     
         7 . The electronic system of  claim 6 , wherein each host is capable of outputting a noticing signal when receiving the service notice packet.  
     
     
         8 . The electronic system of  claim 3 , wherein each host is capable of transmitting a service request packet with the second radio module.  
     
     
         9 . The electronic system of  claim 8 , wherein the input apparatus will output the service notice packet when receiving the service request packet.  
     
     
         10 . The electronic system of  claim 3 , wherein when a host transmits the control packet comprising an identity code corresponding to the host, the control circuit will add the identity code corresponding to the host in the identity table as a predetermined identity code for updating the identity table.